Hayes bullied over his sexuality

The Savage Garden star publicly 'came out' as gay in 2006 and has been married to his longterm partner for five years.

The 39-year-old Australian admits he spent years tormented about his sexual orientation, and he looked to the King of Pop for courage and inspiration.

He tells News.com.au, "For me as a kid growing up, I was gay and I didn't even realise it, let alone accept it. I was told I was gay before I could even imagine it. I was incredibly bullied - ferociously bullied - as a child.

"I looked to this man (Jackson) that the whole world thought was a freak and I thought, 'That's normal' and he was this hero to me. He taught me to sing."

Hayes was recording at a studio in Stockholm, Sweden when he heard the news of Jackson's death in 2009, and the star reveals he was devastated, adding: "I'm about to step up to the mic, and (thought) 'I'm the one who survived? I'm the one that's singing now? He's dead, but me, the guy from Brisbane, I still get to make records?' That didn't seem fair."